Refrigerating apparatus



Dec. 2, 1941.

DU B. SMITH ET AL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. Conrad R Buchei'. IQnDuBois SmiHn.

TTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. DU B. SMITH ET AL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 2Filed Oct. 11, 1940 INVENTORS. Conrad R. Buchef. BY Ian DuBois SmH'h.

m m z E m a a Bra n ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Ian Du Bois Smith. SouthPasadena, and Conrad Robert Buchet, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 11, 1940, Serial No. 360,824

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigeration apparatus.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improvedrefrigeration apparatus including a novel refrigerant circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigerationapparatus including multiple stage compression for the refrigerant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerationapparatus including fluid means for compressing the refrigerant.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accom panyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an improved refrigeration apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the gear pump taken online 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the rotary valve takenon line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section through the evaporator tanks withportions thereof in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a. fragmentary section through one of the receiver tanksshowing a modified form of compression means.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters we have indicated ourimproved refrigeration apparatus generally at I0. As shown the device I0includes a pair of 'tanks 12 and I3, a receiver tank l4, an expansioncoil 15, a gear pump I6, a rotary valve II, a compressor l8 and a drivemeans which is shown as an electric motor l6.

As shown each of the evaporator tanks l2 and I3 includes a verticallydisposed hollow cylindrical housing 20 having cooling fins 2| thereon.The top of the housing is closed by a cap member 22 and the bottom isclosed by a cap member 23.

The bottom cap 23 includes a vertically disposed hollow cylinder 24integral therewith and which is coaxial with the housing 20 spacedtherefrom and terminates below the upper cap 22.

The upper end of the cylinder 24 is closed by a dome shaped cap 25 whichis threadedly secured thereto as at 26. The cap 25 includes a transversehorizontal partition 21 having an upwardly convergent valve seataperture 28 therein.

Supported on the upper end of the cylinder 24 and clamped thereto by thecap 25 we provide a plate 29 having a central aperture 30 therein.

and having therebelow a cage portion 3| in which a buoyant ball member32 is positioned.

Communicating with the interior of the cap 25 we provide a conduit 33which extends upwardly into the interior of the cap 22. The conduit 33has a check valve 34 therein which permits passage from the cylinder 20into the cap 25 as indicated by the arrow but prevents passage in theopposite direction. 3

Surrounding the cylinder 2 and spaced therefrom we provide a coiledconduit member 35 the upper portion of which terminates in a conduitportion 36 which communicates with the interior of the cap 25 and has acheck valve 37 therein adjacent'the cap.

The check valve 3? permits passage through the conduit from the cap tothe coil as indicated by the arrow but prevents passage in the oppositedirection.

Directly surrounding the cylinder 24 we provide a coiled conduit member38, Within and adjacent one side of the housing 26 we provide a verticalconduit 39 which extends out of the housing adjacent the top thereof andcommunicates with a check valve 40.

The check valve 40 permits passage into the conduit 39 as indicated bythe arrow but prevents passage in the opposite direction. I

Adjacent the tops thereof below the caps 22 the tanks I2 and I3are'connected by a conduit 4| and adjacent their lower ends above thecaps 23 they are similarly connected by a conduit 42.

As shown in Fig. 6 the receiver 14 comprises a hollow horizontallydisposed closed tank 43 having a conduit coil 44 therein,

As shown in Fig. 3 the gear pump I6 is of the conventional typeincluding a housing 45 having intercommunicating chambers '35 and 41therein in which meshing gear members 48 and 49 mounted on shafts Wand5| respectively are positioned. The housing 45 further includes an inletport 52 and opposite therefrom an outlet port 53 both of whichcommunicate with the chambers 46 and 47 as shown.

The rotary valve device ll may be of any desired type and as shown inFig. 4 includes a hous ing 55 having a cylindrical recess 55 therein, aninlet port 51, an outlet port 58 opposite the port 51, and at rightangles to the inletand outlet ports opposed ports 59 and 5E). The ports51 and 58 are shown as vertical and the ports 59 and 60 are shown ashorizontal. In the recess 58 a roof the shaft the valve Bl includespassageways of the gear pump I6 through the medium of a l belt I2.

The drive shaft 59 of the gear pump I6 has-a pulley I3 thereon whichthrough the medium of a belt I4 drives a pulley I5 on the operatingshaft 62 of the rotary valve device ,I 1.. p

One end of a conduit I6 communicates with the outlet port 58 of thevalve I1 and the opposite end communicates with the inlet port 52 of thegear pump I6.

The outlet 53 of the gear pump I8 is ethilecta by a conduit I6 to theinlet port 51 of the rotary valve I'I.

One end of a conduit 11 communicates with the port 59 of the valve I1and the opposite end communicates with the interior of the cylinder 24in the tank I2 through the bottom thereof as shown in Fig. 5. Theconduit I1 preferably has a plurality of cooling fins I8 thereon.

One end of a conduit I9 communicates with the port 68 of the valve I!and the opposite end communicates with the cylinder 24 in the tank I3through the bottom thereof. The conduit'19 like the conduit I8 has aplurality of cooling fins 89 thereon. v

The lower end of the coil in the tank I2 is connected by a conduit 8| toa T fitting 82 and .the'lower end of the coil 35 in the tank I3 isconnected by a conduit 83 to the fitting 82.

The fitting 82 is connected by a conduit 84 to theintake 85 of thecompressor I8.

The upper end of the coil 38 of the tank I2 is connected by a conduit 86to a T fitting 81 and the upper end of the coil 38 in the tank I3 isconnected by a conduit 88 to the fitting 81.

The fitting 81 is connected by a conduit 89 to the outlet 90 of thecompressor I8.

.The lower end of the coil 38 in the tank I2 is connected by a conduit9I to a T fitting 92 and the lower end of the coil 38 in the tank I3 isconnected by a conduit 93 to the fitting 92.

One end of a conduit 94 communicates with the fitting 92 and theopposite end communicates with the interior of the receiver 43 throughthe top thereof.

One end of a conduit 95 having a control valve 96 therein communicateswith the interior of the receiver tank 43 through the bottom thereof andthe oppositeend communicates with one end of the expansion coil I5. 7 y

The other end of the expansion coil I5 communicates with one end of aconduit 98 the oppositeend of which communicates with the coil '44 inthe receiver 43.

The opposite end of the coil 44 communicates with one end of a conduit99 the opposite end of which communicates with a fitting I0 0.

The fitting I08 is connected by a conduit IOI to the check valve 48 ofthe tank I3 and by a pipe I02 to the check valve of the tank I2.

In operation a predetermined amount of refrigerant fluid such as aquaammonia is introduced in the refrigeration system until the tanks I2 andI3 are approximately two thirds full as indicated bythe-broken line I83in Fig. 5... j cylinders 24 in the tanks and I3, the

gear pump I6, the valve I I and the associated piping contains apredetermined amount of fluid, which may or may not be refrigerantfluid.

The amount of fluid in the cylinders 24 and associated parts is suchthat when the level of the fluid in one of the cylinders is adjacent thetop thereof the fluid level in the other cylinder is adjacent the bottomthereof as shown in Fig. 5. When the motor I9 is started to operate thedevice the gear pump I6 draws fluid through the conduit I6 from theoutlet 58 of the rotary valve I] and forces it through the conduit 16'into the inlet 51 of the rotary valve I1.

As the valve member 63 rotates it alternately affords communicationbetween the conduit 11 and the inlet 5! and at the same time between theconduit I9 and the outlet 58 and then affords communication between theinlet 51 and the conduit. I9v and at the same time between the outlet 58and the conduit 11.

When the valve member 63 is in the position shown in Fig. 4 fluid isbeing drawn through the conduit 19 from the cylinder 24 in the tank I3and forced through the conduit 11 into the cylinder 24 of the tank I2.

When the valve member 63 rotates to afford communication between theinlet 5'! and the conduit I9 and between the outlet 58 and the conduit'II fluid is drawn through the conduit 11 from the cylinder 24 in thetank I2 and forced through the conduit I9 into the cylinder 24 in thetank I3.

Thus as the device operates the fluid in the cylinders 24 alternatelyrises and lowers thus acting as a piston within the cylinders.

When the fluid in one of the cylinders 24 moves downward ammonia vaporis drawn through the conduit 33 and check valve 34 into. the cap 25 andinto the cylinder 24 and as the fluid in the cylinder rises the ammoniavapor is forced out of the cylinder and cap through the check valve 3'!and conduit 36 into and through the coil 35. From the coil 35 it passesthrough the conduit 84 into the compressor I8 wherein it is furthercompressed and forced therefrom through the conduit 89 into the upperend of the coil 38. As it is passed downward through the coil 38 theam--.' monia vapor condenses and the refrigerant'fluid is forced out ofthe lower end of the' coil and through the conduit 94 into the receiverI4.

From the receiver I4 the refrigerant fluid is forced through the conduitinto the expansion coil 95 wherein it again vaporizes. From theexpansion coil 95 the vapor is forced through the conduit 98 into andthrough the coil 44 in the 1 receiver I4 and thence through the conduit99 and through the check valve 49 into the conduit 39 in the tankwherein it is forced downward and expelled therefrom into the aquaammonia in the tank adjacent the bottom of the tank.

The fluid within the cylinders 24 is retained therein 'by the action ofthe ball members 32. Should the fluid rise too high the ball memberfloats into the aperture 28 and prevents discharge therethrough.

In Fig. 7 we have shown a, fragmentary section through one of thecylinders 24 wherein a fluid other than the refrigerant is used. In thisinstance mercury indicated at I65 is used in the fluid in the cylinderand above the mercury a quantity of oil I 86 having a buoyant disc I 8!thereon is provided to' form a seal to prevent the refrigerant vapors.from mixing with the mercury.

,It will be appreciated that the vapor pump comprisingthe cylinders 28and 24 and the gear. pump I6 and the rotary valve device IImay beadapted for use in apparatus other than'refrigeration equipment.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that we have provideda novel refrigeration apparatus which is simple in construction andhighly eflicient in use.

Having thus described our invention we claim:

1. A refrigeration apparatus including a tank, a receiver and anexpansion coil, a compression member, a cylinder member Within saidtank, a refrigerant in said tank and surrounding said cylinder, a liquidin said cylinder, means to reciprocate said liquid, valve means to causethe liquid to act as a piston to draw refrigerant material into saidcylinder and force it therefrom to said compressor member, means wherebysaid compressor member forces refrigerant into and through said receiverto said expansion coil and means to direct said refrigerant from saidexpansion coil into said tank.

2. A refrigeration apparatus including a pair of tanks, a receiver, anexpansion coil and a compressor member, a cylinder member within each ofsaid tanks, a refrigerant in each of said tanks, intercommunicatingpassageways between said tanks, a coiled conduit in each of said tanks,a liquid in each of said cylinders, means to reciprocate the liquid insaid cylinders, valved conduit means to cause liquid in the cylinders toact as oppositely moving pistons to draw refrigerant vapors from saidtanks and force it through said coils to said compressor member, meanswhereby said compressor forces refrigerant into and through saidreceiver to said expansion coil, and means to direct said refrigerantfrom said expansion coil back into said tanks.

3. A refrigeration apparatus including a pair of tanks, a receiver, anexpansion coil and a compressor member, a coiled conduit in saidreceiver tank, a cylinder member within each of said tanks, arefrigerant in each of said tanks, intercommunicating passagewaysbetween said tanks, a coiled conduit in each of said tanks, a secondcoiled conduit in each of said tanks, said coiled conduits being partlysubmerged in the refrigerant in said tanks, a liquid in each of saidcylinders, means to reciprocate the liquid from one cylinder to theother to cause a piston action to draw refrigerant vapors from saidtanks and force it through said first coils in said tanks to saidcompressor member, and means whereby said compressor member forcesrefrigerant through said second coils in said tanks and into and throughsaid tank to said expansion coils, thence through said coil in saidreceiver and back into said tanks.

4. A refrigeration apparatus including a pair of tanks, a receiver tank,an expansion coil, a compressor member, and a pump member, a coiledconduit in said receiver, a cylinder member in each of said tanks, arefrigerant in each of said tanks, intercommunicating passagewaysbetween said tanks, a coiled conduit in each of said tanks, 9. secondcoiled conduit in each of said tanks, said coiled conduits being partlysubmerged in said refrigerant in said tanks, a liquid in each of saidcylinders, conduit means connecting each of said cylinders and said pumpmember, flow control means interposed in said conduit means toalternately direct flow from .said pump to one of said cylinders anddirect ciprocate said liquid in said cylinders to thereby cause saidliquids to act as oppositely moving pistons to draw refrigerant vaporsfrom said tanks and force it through said first coils in said tank tosaid compressor member, conduit means permitting said compressor memberto force refrigerant through said second coils in said tanks and intoand through said receiver to said expansion coils, thence through saidcoil in said receiver and back into said tanks below the fluid leveltherein.

5. In a refrigeration apparatus, a closed vertical tank, a hollowcylinder within said tank and spaced therefrom, liquid refrigerantsurrounding said cylinder and partially filling said tank, gaseousrefrigerant filling the space above said liquid refrigerant, fluidwithin said cylinder, means to pump fluid alternately from and to thecylinder, valve means on the cylinder to permit passage of gaseousrefrigerant from said tank into said cylinder upon withdrawal of saidfluid,

a coiled conduit surrounding said cylinder, a compressor, one end ofsaid coiled conduit communicating with the intake of said compressor,the other end of said conduit communicating with the interior of saidcylinder and adapted to receive gaseous refrigerant therefrom upon therise of said fluid therein, a second coiled conduit within said tank andsurrounding said cylinder one end of said second conduit communicatingwith the discharge of said compressor, a receiver, the other end of saidsecond conduit communicating with said receiver, a conduit leading fromsaid receiver to the interior of said tanks below the surface of theliquid refrigerant therein, an expansion coil and a conduit from saidreceiver communicating with the expansion coil.

6. In a refrigeration apparatus, a pair of closed vertical tanks, ahollow cylinder within each of said tanks and spaced therefrom, liquidrefrigerant surrounding said cylinders and partially filling said tanks,gaseous refrigerant filling the space above said liquid refrigerant,fluid within said cylinders, a gear pump adapted to pump the fluidalternately from one cylinder to the other, valve means to alternate thedirection of flow from one cylinder to the other, valve means at the topof each cylinder adapted to permit passage of gaseous refrigerant fromsaid tank into each cylinder upon withdrawal of fluid therefrom, acoiled conduit surrounding said cylinders, a compressor, one end of saidcoiled conduit communicating with the intake of said compressor, theother end of said conduit communicating with the interiors of saidcylinders and adapted to receive gaseous refrigerant therefrom upon therise of said fluid therein, a second coiled conduit within said tanksand surrounding said cylinders, one end of said second conduitcommunicating with the discharge of said compressor, a receiver, theother end of said second conduit communicating with said receiver, aconduit leading from said receiver to the interiors of said tanks belowthe surface of the liquid refrigerant therein, an expansion coil and aconduit affording communication between said receiver and said expansioncoil.

IAN DU 3018 SMITH. CONRAD ROBERT BUCHET.

